Protesters lying on the ground to prevent cement mixers from carrying out construction works near monk seal cave in Amchit on Nov. 5, 2025. (Credit: National News Agency)
BEIRUT — The head of the Terre-Liban association, Paul Abi Rached, stated that activists sat down on Wednesday morning in the middle of the road near the monk seal cave in Amchit (Jbeil district) to "block cement mixers that had arrived to continue construction work above the cave and pour concrete," according to a statement relayed by the state-run National News Agency.
The protest was organized by the "Save Our Seals" campaign, which was launched by Terre-Liban.
Abi Rached pointed out that the situation escalated into a confrontation amid intense anger and resentment over the resumption of construction works threatening the monk seal cave, despite a decision issued on Tuesday by the judge of urgent matters to halt the project.
A video posted by Megaphone News on Wednesday shows activists lying on the ground around a cement mixer, with one protester holding a paper containing the judge's decision from a day earlier.
The cave is Lebanon’s only known breeding cave for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal, activists say. According to local and social media, the project is a planned villa reportedly owned by former Future TV presenter Roula Bahnam.
Excavation at the site resumed at dawn on Oct. 15, ending a suspension in place since March 14. The earlier halt followed a State Shura Council decision to suspend the villa’s construction permit after Terre-Liban filed an appeal.
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